There is probably no topic more discussed and debated among novice and seasoned cruisers alike than tipping: how to tip, when to tip, how much to tip, whom to tip -- and perhaps even why you need to tip at all. Yes, tipping etiquette and varying cruise line policies on the practice can be baffling indeed. Worse still, gratuities that you haven't anticipated can quickly eat into your cruise vacation budget. Here are our tips on tipping, so you won't be lost at sea when it comes time to show your appreciation for the cruise crew.

Why You Should Tip on a Cruise

While, technically speaking, tipping isn't mandatory -- a tip, after all, is considered to be a voluntary expression of thanks -- you must consider that the gratuities distributed onboard the modern cruise ship are much more than mere bonuses.

There are exceptions, but most mainstream cruise lines pay the men and women who serve their passengers a low base wage (by Western standards). As such, on nearly all big-ship lines, crewmembers are dependent upon the generosity of travelers for a good portion of their income. The cruise lines' rationale for this compensation model, whether or not you agree with it, is that tips help incentivize higher service standards. And, of course, the cruise companies are all too happy to keep their cruises' advertised prices down by passing off some of the cost of employee compensation as added gratuity fees tacked on to your onboard bill.

On the other hand, many luxury and boutique cruise lines (like Azamara, Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea, among others) have no-tipping policies in place. In these cases, the staff service fees are built directly into the all-inclusive fares, and their crewmembers are paid accordingly.

Today, most mainstream cruise companies place automatic service charges on passengers' shipboard accounts, or offer the option for prepaid gratuities at booking, conveniently replacing the need for travelers to run around the ship handing out tip envelopes at the end of their cruise. The automation of the tipping process has been implemented for two main reasons.

The first is the rising number of international travelers on cruise ships, who do not always share the American mentality about tipping. With many passengers onboard from countries where tipping is not customary, automatic service charges help to guarantee crewmembers' compensation.

The second reason for the automatic charge is the proliferation of alternative dining venues. That a new ship will have multiple dining venues -- beyond the buffet and main dining room -- is now the norm rather than the exception. In the past, passengers dined at the same table each day for three meals and then tipped their assigned waiters and waitstaff. With flexible dining plans and numerous dining options now in vogue, passengers are no longer tied to just one team of waiters. Over the course of the week, they may encounter a number of servers, making tipping more problematic.

Automated tips are typically dispersed across the entire service staff (including cabin attendants and restaurant waitstaff), and admirably include those who previously went unrewarded, like the servers in the buffet restaurants, where most passengers eat their breakfast and lunch, and other behinds-the-scenes staff.

In short, gratuities should not be viewed as an optional "extra," but more as a required service fee, which ensures fare wages for the hardworking cruise crew. Accordingly, when planning your cruise vacation budget, be sure to factor in the estimated cost of gratuities for the duration of your sailing.

How You Should Tip

The traditional cash-in-envelopes method of cruise tipping is now almost entirely a thing of the past. Opt into the cruise line's automatic service charges, and you'll not only ensure fairness to all staff, but also save yourself the headache of having to crunch numbers and track down numerous crewmembers on the final evening of your cruise. The charges, applied per passenger, per sailing night, will be conveniently added to your shipboard, credit card-backed account, and in some cases, can be prepaid at the time of your cruise booking.

Special note: Children are not usually exempt from auto-tipping (with the exception of infants and toddlers, on some lines), which seems fair, given that they certainly contribute to in-cabin messes, and require as much attention -- if not more -- as any adult in the restaurants.

Because tips are technically voluntary, most cruise lines do allow passengers to opt out of the automatic service charge and to tip by themselves in cash. However, since it is practically impossible to individually tip all the people in front of and behind the scenes whose efforts enhance passengers' shipboard experience, we would discourage going this route.

Keep in mind that even if you've opted in for automatic gratuities, or are aboard one of the luxury cruises where tipping is included in the upfront rates, you should still bring along a cash stash for additional tips for exemplary or optional services (American dollars are gladly accepted worldwide, so come stocked with singles, fives and tens). These cash tips should generally be passed along hand to hand -- for formality's sake, you might consider sticking money in an envelope (envelopes are usually available from your cabin's stationary supply or at the ship's reception desk), though that extra step isn't necessary.

When You Should Tip

As mentioned above, we suggest sticking to automated tipping, which can sometimes be prepaid upfront before your sailing even begins, or applied to your shipboard account as a daily or cumulative fee. Personally, we like pre-paying the amount in full, when possible, so a hefty balance statement at the cruise's end doesn't interfere with our post-vacation glow. (The bar bill and spa charges can be a buzzkill all by their lonesome!)

If you feel that this automated service charge should be adjusted -- either increased or decreased -- you should make the request with guest services toward the end of the cruise, once the standard of service onboard has been properly assessed. Note that any desired adjustments must be made before disembarking.

For any additional tipping, to mark particularly outstanding service, the general rule of thumb is to hand out cash tips on the last day of the cruise. Don't wait till the morning of disembarkation, when everybody is in a frenzied transition mode and it might be difficult to locate the staffer you're after.

But there are exceptions to this rule, when pre-tipping can be quite strategic. One instance is your cabin steward, especially if you have special requests or require extra service (e.g., you want a bucket of ice delivered to the cabin nightly; plan to do a lot of entertaining in your cabin; or if there is an infant or someone who is ill in your party). A well-placed tip at the beginning of the cruise can do wonders to help ensure that he or she happily obliges.

Another instance might be a bartender at your preferred onboard bar -- a hand-passed gratuity on the first day of the sailing can go a long way in having him or her recognize your face in the crowd, and remember just how you like your drink. Or, perhaps, there's a window table for two that you have your heart set on in the main dining room -- a nice tip to the maitre d' on day one can help ensure that she or he never fails to have that table waiting.

Room service stewards should be tipped on the spot, as should non-cruise workers like in-port baggage handlers or tour operators on shore excursions.

Whom to Tip and How Much

The following guidelines assume that the suggested auto-gratuities have been paid, averaging around $12 per person, per day (about $84 per person for a weeklong cruise) -- or that the cruiser is aboard a line where gratuities are included in the upfront rates. (Note that the specific amounts for automatic gratuities vary by cruise line and can also increase for higher-level cabins.)

What follows below, then, are the suggested out-of-pocket "extras" -- supplemental tips handed out for superlative service or special favors rendered, in order to thank particularly deserving shipboard staff in a way they'll surely appreciate. Of course, the size of the tip should ultimately reflect the excellence of the service.

Note, too, that there are also gratuities automatically and separately applied to some optional onboard services, like drinks at the bar, or spa and salon services. We've outlined those here, as well.

Finally, keep in mind that there are some services provided by non-cruise staffers for which tips should also be paid out of pocket -- this extends to port-side baggage handlers, or shore excursion tour operators.

In-Port Baggage Handlers

The baggage handlers who take your bags at arrival at the port don't typically work for the cruise line (but rather the port) and therefore won't share in the onboard tip pool. Consider treating them as you would a bellman at a hotel -- a customary $1 or $2 per bag will do. When your cruise concludes, if the port workers aid in getting your bags to your car or a taxi, the same amount would be courteous.

Cabin Stewards and Butlers

Among staffers, you'll likely interact with your cabin attendant the most during the course of your cruise. While the automatic service charges will cover their basic gratuities, it's generally considered good form to tip them a bit extra for a job well done, especially if you have made any special requests. Should you choose to, for a seven-night cruise, consider slipping them $15 to $20 at the start of the cruise to ensure special attention to your stateroom and give them another $15 to $20 at the cruise's end -- this works out to about an additional $2 to $3 per person, per day, for the duration of the cruise, though you can obviously make it less or more depending on the level of interaction and satisfaction.

Likewise, if you are in a suite, or aboard a luxury sailing, you may have a butler assigned to your room, in lieu of a cabin steward. Since they typically have more duties to meet (bringing trays of tea or hors d'oeuvres, keeping your preferred beverages in stock, shining shoes, etc.), a good guideline, if you've satisfactorily utilized their services, is a supplementary tip of $3 to $5 per night, per person -- the total of which ($42 to $70 for two, for a seven-night cruise) might also best be split and distributed at both the cruise's onset and conclusion.

Room Service Stewards

While cruise lines generally don't charge for room service (though charges are becoming more common on lines like Norwegian and Royal Caribbean), it's customary to tip room service stewards $2 or $3 per visit, based on the size of your order. However, given that auto-gratuities are now commonplace, you'll certainly be forgiven if you don't manage to scramble for a cash tip before you've had your morning coffee.

Bartenders

Bar service has an automatic gratuity applied on the check (usually 15 percent). However, if you're planning to frequent the same onboard bar (like the ever-popular pool bar), a good way to ensure fast service and generous pours is to give your busy bartender a little upfront tip at the beginning of the cruise ($10 to $20, depending on your intended frequency of patronage, should cut it). If the service proves excellent, consider the same at the cruise's end.

Wine Sommeliers

Wine ordered with meals will likewise have a 15 percent service charge automatically applied, but if you regularly drink wine with your meals, and your sommelier has been quite good at recommending wines and keeping bottles from meal to meal, consider a tip of $10 to $15 at the end of the cruise.

Maitre D's and Head Waiters

You usually do not need to tip the maitre d', as he or she is a ship's officer and is paid accordingly, or the head waiter, who is covered in the automatic tip pool. However, if either one has provided some extra special service -- like getting you an upgraded table or having a special cake delivered, a tip of $5 to $10 at the time of the service rendered or at the end of the cruise would be appropriate.

Dining Room Waiters

Again, your auto-gratuities will cover all waitstaff in the main dining room, buffet restaurants and specialty dining venues alike, but if you dine at the same table and enjoy regular service from one or two particularly friendly and efficient waiters, consider leaving an additional $10 to $20 at the cruise's end.

Shore Excursions

Tour operators in port are usually independent of the cruise line. For a half-day shore excursion, give the guide $2, or $4 to $5 for a full-day excursion -- consider giving a bit more if there was especially personalized service. And don't forget the driver -- give drivers $1 for half-day excursions, $2 for full-day ones.

Kids' Club Counselors

Tipping is not necessary in kids' clubs (as kids' counselors are usually considered part of the better-compensated entertainment staff rather than the tip-dependent service staff), but if your child requires any special attention or if a counselor was particularly good with your children, tipping a few dollars per time the facilities were utilized would certainly be appreciated at the cruise's conclusion.

Spa Services

Spas will generally add a 15 to 18 percent gratuity to your bill, which is sufficient, though this number can be adjusted if the service was exceptional or lacking.

Casino Dealers

If you find yourself on a winning streak in the ship's casino (lucky you!), remember to reward your dealer as you would back on land -- there's no standard for tipping dealers, so use your discretion, based in relation to your winnings.

Officers

Do not tip the captain or other ship officers -- they are already well compensated, and the gesture would more likely be a source of embarrassment than flattery.

Ultimately, it's important to understand that money is not a substitute for saying thank you; in addition to verbally expressing gratitude, consider delivering a handwritten thank you note, if you are so inclined. One of the nicest ways passengers can show their appreciation is to mention staff by name in the end-of-cruise questionnaire, or to reach out to their ship supervisor to notify them of the staffer's exemplary service. Going one step further, a letter of praise for an exceptional employee to the cruise line's head office can give a real boost to a cruise staffer's career.